Saliva-ejector.



No.'730,128. Y PATENTED JUNE 2,1903. J..-B.JORDAN.' j v SALIVA EJEGTOR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. 1902'.

Wihwja:

UNITED STATES .Patented. June 2, 1903.

P TENT OFFICE.

SALlVA-EJ ECTOR.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,128, dated June 2, 1903.

I Application filed June 9, 1902. Serial No. 110,885. (No model.)

To [oZZ whom it may, concern.- 7 Be it known that I, J AMES BLoUNr JORDAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashville, in the county of .Davidson and State of Tennessee, hai e invented new and useful Improvements in Saliva-Ejectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'lto a'saliva-ejector for use in dental work; andthe object of the invention is to provide an efficient device of this character which can be easily applied and which when in place is positively held in the month without discomfort to the patient or possible injury to the tender tissues of the mouth or gums and: so that the operator can use both hands in working on the teethand which-carries off all saliva and water used during the workfor example, in grinding preparatory to putting on crowns.

Other objects and advantages of the -inv ention will-be set forth in the following'description, while the novelty thereof will constitute the basis of the claims succeeding such description, and said-invention in one simple and convenient form thereof is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of right-and-left saliva-ejectors arranged side by side and including my invention. Fig. 2 is asimilar view of the left ejector with, a holding-clip combined therewith. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the same with the clip -re-- moved. Fig. 4 is a similar View 'of the clip.

Fig. 5 is a cro'ss-sectionthrough the extension of the device. Fig. .6IlS a detail view inperspective of one of the wings.

Like characters' refer to like parts in all'the figures of the drawings. 7

The improved instrument, which is of tubular form, includes a stem 2, provided at its upper endwitha substantially U-shaped extension 3, and. these'parts may be made from any suitable material: The'inner ends of the branchesofsaid U-shaped extension 3 are preferably closed; but the lower end of the stem 2 is open. Such lower end of the stem is adaptedto receive a tube of rubber or the like, which I have not deemed it necessary to show, as the same forms no part of the invention. At the lower end of this rubber tube a water suction-pump'is generally applied, so as to draw the saliva and waterfrom the patients mouth through the ejector, one or both of the branches of the U-shaped extension of the ejector having an inlet for the entrance of such saliva or water. The upper end of the tubular stem 2 is bent a114, so as to fit over the lip of the patient, and the major part of the length of the stem 2 extends in such direction from the U-shaped extension 3 that it will be alined with the rubber tube before mentioned, so that the latter cannot j exert any lateral stress upon the ejector, as in case it did it would jtelldi todisplace the.

same. 1

There are two of the ejectors shown, one forthe left lower side of the mouth and the other for the right lower side. It will be understood, of course, that the stems 2 for the greater 1 part of their length are so disposed that ifv the ejectors were in the mouth at the same time such stems. would extend in parallelism, as shown-byFigl.

I will ,now describe in detail the ejector employed on the left. The branches of the U-shaped extension 3 are-adapted to be contiguous to the lingual and buccal surfaces, respectively, of the lower gum, and the stem 2 is connected with the extension in proximity to the junction of said branches, and the extension and stem may or may not be in one piece, as desired. The rear portion of the extension 3 is deflected below the forward portion thereof, so that whensuch rear portion is in the mouth thefront portion will extend above the tops of the teeth. The branches of the- U shaped extension are curved or arched to conform to the curvature of the .gum against or near which they fit.

.The extension shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5 is adaptedto the left side of the mouth, and it will be evident that the curve of the branches of the other extension, or theone that is fitted in the right side of the mouth, ,is opposite to that shown in said figures. IThe inner or lingual branch of the extension 3 is somewhat shorter than its companion or buccal branch, so that it will not project into the throat. At or near the inner closed end of the inside branch of the extension 3 I form an inlet or perforation 5 for the entrance of saliva that collects under the tongue, and this inlet or perforation is open at all times. In the other branch of the extension I provide a valved inlet hereinafter described, the valve of which is normally closed, so that the atmospheric air cannot normally enter such valved inlet to oppose the ingress of saliva through the single inlet 5 in the inner branch. Also by providing a single inlet in the inner branch atmospheric air cannot enter the same when the valve in the other branch is closed. At a point substantially midway of the outer branch of the extension '3 I form a circumferential channel 6, in-which the band 7 is fitted for rotation, said band constituting a valve for the saliva-inlet 8 in said channel. The valve or band 7 has a perforation f) at a suitable point, which by turning said band or valve can be brought into registration with the inlet 8. The band or valve can be readily turned by a suitable instrument in the hands of the dentist] It will be understood that normally the solid portion of the band or valve covers the perforation 9, so as to prevent the entrance of atmospheric air through such perforation. \Vhen the operator finds it necessary to remove an accumulation of saliva from the outer surface of the gums, he simply opens the valve 7 while the instrument is in the patients mouth, and when the saliva or any water that may have been used in grinding work has been discharged the valve will be closed.

It will be understood that the saliva colelcts more ouickly on the lingual surface of the mouth than on the buccal surface thereof, by reason of which I provide a manually operable valve on the buccal drainage portion of the instrument, which valve is maintained normally closed,whereby atmospheric air cannot norm ally enter the valve-controlled inlet, as in case it did it would pass into the buccal drainage portion and from the same into the communicating lingual drainage portion and oppose the entrance of saliva into the latter. \Vhen it becomes necessary to drain the buccal surface of the mouth, the valve in question is opened by means of a suitable implement in the hands of the dentist, and when said valve is opened such drainage of the buccal surface can be quickly effected. As soon as the buccal surface is drained of the saliva the valve is closed.

To the branches of the extension 3 I secure the wings 10, of highly-polished plate material. At least the inner surfaces of the plates are highly polished, so that they can be used as reflectors or mirrors. The wings 1.0 are sleeved onto the'branches of the extension, and to prevent said wings from turning I form upon said branches longitudinal keys or ribs 11, which are adapted to fit in cooperating grooves in the bores of the sleeves 12, said sleeves being suitably formed at the opposite ends of the respective wings. Ordinarily the keys or ribs are made integral with the respective branches of the extension 3; but of course this is not essential. A part of one of the ribs is formed upon the turning valve or band 7. In certain kinds of dental work the wings are to be removed from their supportin branches, and it will be apparent that they can readily he slipped from place and can be as easily put on; but before the outer wing can be removed it will be necessary to bring that part of the key l]. that is on the valve or band 7 into line with the cooperating and relatively fixed sections of said key.

The tongue is adapted to come against the outer surface of the inner wing, and such outer surface is concaved to fit the tongue. This inner plate or wing, it will be evident, prevents the tongue from coming in contact with the teeth upon which the dentist is working. of the cheek, and its outer surface is co] ivexed. Such outer plate of course prevents the check from coming in contact with the teeth. The wings or plates, beside aeeomplishin the function of tongue and cheek depressers, also serve as guards, for in case the instrument that the dentist is using should slip the same will strike one of said plates and be prevented. thereby from injuring the patient.

I provide means for positively holding the ejector, or rather the extension thereof, in the mouth, so that the same cannot be accidentally dislodged, and I will now set forth a simple device for securing this result. A clip is shown at 13, and its jaws are provided with concaved seats 14 to receive a tooth, so that the clip will be held firmly in position. The said jaws are provided with spring-arms 1.5, which parts may be made integral. and the spring-arms terminate in bends 10, adapted to yieldingly engage the branches of the extension 3. It will be evident, therefore, that when the clip 13 is connected with a tooth and the bends 16 and in engagement with the branches of said extension the latter will be firmly held in place. By pressing the springarms 15 toward or from each other they can be readily connected to or disconnected from the branches of the extension. It will be obvious that the clip, with its spring-arms, is reversible from back to front and can be interchangeably used with the two ejectors.

From the foregoing description it will. be evident that my improved device comprises, broadly, buccal and lingual tubular drainage portions each having an inlet and one of the inlets being valved.

The invention is in nowise limited to the structure nor arrangement of parts hereinbefore set forth, for many variations as to these features may be adapted within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A saliva-ejector having buccal and lingual tubular drainage portions, each having a saliva-inlet, and the inlet of the buccal portion. having a ma]n'lally-operable valve whereby said valve can be maintained normally The outer wing :iits against the inside closed, and can be opened at intervals to permit the removalof accumulated liquid from the buccal surface of the mouth.

2. A saliva-ejector having buccal and lingual tubular drainage portions, each having a saliva-inlet, and a band rotative in a channel of the buccal drainage portion and constituting a valve and having a perforation adapted to register with the inlet in said buccal drainage portion.

3, A saliva-ejector having buccal and lingual drainage portions, each having-a salivainlet, wings sleeved to said tubular drainage portions, a valve upon the buccal drainage portion for controlling the inlet thereto, and keys upon the tubular drainage portions to fit grooves in the sleeve of the respective wings, a part of one of the keys being formed upon said valve.

4. A saliva-ejector having buccal and lingual drainage portions, each having a salivainlet combined with a spring-clip connected with said drainage portions.

5. A saliva-ejector having buccal and lingual drainage portions, each having a salivainlet combined with a spring-clip connected with said drain age portions, and h aving tooth gripping jaws.

6. A saliva-ejector 7 adapted to enter the 1110111311 combined with means for positively clamping such drainage part in the mouth against accidental dislodgment.

7. A saliva-ejector having buccal and'lingual tubular drainage portions combined with a spring-clip having arms for engaging said tubular drainage portions to hold the same against accidental dislodgment.

8. A saliva-ej ector having buccal and lingual tubular drainage portions, and cheek and tongue engaging wings carried by said drainage portions, the outer surface of the having a drainage part cheek-engaging wing being convexed and the outer surface of the tongue-engaging wing being concaved.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- JAMESBLOUNT JORDAN. Witnesses:

HEATH SUTHERLAND, GEo. W REA. 

